New Car Review

1995 SATURN SL2 SEDAN

by: BILL RUSS

Saturn continues its philosophy of evolutionary improvement. Its cars pack a lot of technology
in an affordable package. The 1995 SL2 four-door sedan aptly demonstrates the Saturn way by adding
a host of new features this model year while still maintaining its value and individuality.

Saturn is the newest company in the General Motors fold, established just 10 years ago. Site
preparation on a 200 acre facility at Spring Hill, Tennessee began in 1986, and by 1990 the first
production models started through the 4.1 million square foot manufacturing complex. In five model
years over 800,000 Saturns have been sold. In June of 1994, thousands of Saturn owners and their
families from across the country participated in "The Saturn Homecoming" event in Spring Hill. Even
though it rained it did not diminish the enthusiasm of satisfied owners.

Saturn produces four-door sedans and station wagons, and two-door sports coupes. All are
offered in at least two trim levels, with the sedans available in three versions. The basic SL and more
fully-equipped SL1 share a 100-horsepower 1.9 liter single-overhead cam engine. The top-of-the-line
SL2 has a 124-horsepower twin cam version of the Saturn engine and an comprehensive list of
standard or optional features. We tested the SL2 with the automatic transmission.

A week long road test in a variety of road and weather conditions developed these impressions
of the SL2 family sedan:

APPEARANCE: The SL2 retains its distinctive, contemporary styling and unique construction. A
steel "space frame" chassis is the heart of the car. Body panels are not load-bearing and the fenders,
door panels, quarter panels, and front and rear fascias are made of smooth, dent-resistant
thermoplastic material. The hood is the only body component made of steel. The result is a clean,
aerodynamic design with a large cabin and plenty of glass for good visibility. The window trim and
side mirrors are black, while the wheels sport Firestone Firehawk touring tires.

COMFORT: The Saturn sedan is an honest, unpretentious small family car with all of the basic
features for comfort and convenience. Interior materials and finish are of good quality. Manually-
adjustable front seats are comfortable, with near-European firmness, and all controls are placed in a
logical manner. The instrument panel has been redesigned this year to add a passenger-side air bag,
and features more rounded, padded styling and a new instrument cluster. The rear seat will
comfortably hold two average-sized adults and a small child in the center position. The rear seat folds
down with a 60% / 40% split for increased luggage capacity or trunk access. Access to the good-sized
trunk is enhanced by the low-liftover deck lid. As a bonus for non-smokers, the front seat ashtray can
be converted into an additional cupholder.

SAFETY: Motorized shoulder straps are thankfully a thing of the past. The SL2 now has both driver
and passenger air bags and three-point shoulder harnesses for front and outboard rear seat occupants.
The steering wheel and column, and instrument panel are designed to deform and absorb energy in an
accident. The steel spaceframe has front and rear crumple zones and cross-braced door beams for
impact protection. Antilock brakes are optionally available, with disc brakes on all four wheels. Also
available is a traction control system that works with the automatic transmission and antilock brake
computers.

ROADABILITY: The Saturn SL2 is at its best around town and on smooth highways. Its ride is firmer
than is traditional in American cars, but this makes for better maneuverability. Four-wheel
independent suspension and variable-ratio power steering add to handling control. Engine noise and
vibration have been tamed considerably in the years since the car's introduction.

PERFORMANCE: The SL2 is equipped with the Saturn 124-horsepower 1.9-liter, dual overhead cam,
16-valve, four-cylinder engine. The aluminum alloy block and head, and nodular iron crankshaft are
made with a unique lost-foam casting process. A new tuned composite-material induction system has
been added this year. Our test car was equipped with the optional electronically-controlled four-speed
automatic transmission. This transmission is unique in its class in its ability to automatically downshift
on steep grades in order to utilize engine braking. All of this high-tech hardware gives the SL2 solid,
sprightly performance around town or on the highway.

CONCLUSIONS: In a few short years, Saturn has made quite a mark in the American auto industry.
The SL2 sedan shows why.